[RECAP]  The reality is denying self. Now it may call for us to take a stance within society that will get us rejected. But at the very least, it’s a call for us to turn from our selfish interests, from our crown driven, power seeking, position longing hearts to a release of everything. And then Jesus says, “and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34) [END RECAP]

And if renouncing ourselves and taking up our cross are kind of event decisions that we make, and then come back to and reaffirm, and reaffirm, and reaffirm, the next word—“follow Me” (Mark 8:34)—is a long term process. It’s ongoing. It continues indefinitely. It is a lifestyle. Yes, but even more important, you know what it is? It’s a deathstyle.

Because you see, when we follow Jesus, we have to ask ourselves, ‘where is He going?’ He is going to the cross. He is going to the grave. But let me tell you something. No matter what decision we make in life - whether we say ‘yes’ to the cross or ‘no’ to the cross - we face death. See, if you say ‘no’ to the cross, let me tell you, you will experience dead death. Dead, dead, dead death. To walk away from the cross means that you will enter into the futility and emptiness of self. You will enter into the futility and emptiness of the vain pursuit of a crown. You’ll never get it. Never. It won’t last.

But if you say ‘yes’ to the cross, you will die; you will die to self and it’s a supernatural kind of death. But let me tell you something else. If you say ‘yes’ to the cross, not only will you die, but you will live. You can choose dead death or you can choose death that leads to life. Those are the only two options you have. If you choose to pursue the interest of man, you are choosing to pursue the pathway to death. If you choose to focus on Jesus, you are choosing to pursue the pathway to death that leads to life.

See leaders, Jesus is showing us how we can be delivered from thinking like Satan and pursuing the interests of man rather than pursuing the interests of God.

Now, some of you may object right about now, that this is not about leadership. This is about discipleship. You know what, discipleship is leadership in the New Testament. One of the biggest mistakes we make in the modern world is to rob discipleship of what it is really all about. It’s now reduced to filling in the blanks. Now, I don’t have a problem with filling in the blanks as a method. Not at all. I think it’s great. I think as a teaching tool it’s a wonderful approach. But that’s not what discipleship is. Yes, it’s a part of the process. But I think in a lot of instances discipleship is used to civilize new believers so they fit into the Christian culture. That’s not what discipleship is in the New Testament.

Discipleship is designed to radicalize new believers so they penetrate the culture with the radical life of Christ. In it’s beauty, in it’s wonder, in it’s subversive love and holiness. Not as…it doesn’t take to the streets, doesn’t particularly wave flags, lead demonstrations. The amazing thing about the ancient believers is this: they were subversive because of their love. Discipleship is about helping believers come to a place of love so they give all. This is so far beyond any of us, you know. I understand that. But it’s what Jesus is calling us to. It’s exactly what He’s calling us to.

For Jesus, when He came under the authority of His Father and He came to us and became one of us, it meant masking His innate glory. It meant limiting His independent sovereignty, it meant altering His identity. It meant sacrificing His life. Is it any less for me?

You know, these words deeply impact my life. They deeply impact me. I can’t do this, I can’t do what He’s calling me to do. Remember, you must do what you cannot do with what you do not have. Remember that? But Jesus calls me and He says, ‘Bill, you can’t do this. But I can do it in you. I call you to it. Will you do it?’ Lord, I can’t do it, but I will focus on You. Yes, I will give myself to You. Yes, I will come behind You. Yes, I will do that. But You’re going to have to enable me to deny myself. I don’t have the strength to take up the cross. How could I possibly follow you? I fail! But His call is, nonetheless, to that.

I think one of the reasons why we trivialize, and scandalize, and civilize the cross, or actually end up minimalizing the cross, is because it doesn’t really make sense in life. Paul talks about the word of the cross. Says it’s foolishness (1 Cor 1:18a). Says it’s a stumbling block to people around us (1 Cor 1:23). In fact, he calls it “the weakness of God” (1 Cor 1:25b). The weakness of God! That is always how the Lord looks. He always looks weak.

Go anywhere you want in the world, government powers are there to destroy Christianity. Go anywhere you want in the world, spiritual powers are there to destroy Christianity. Go anywhere you want in the world, economic powers are there to destroy Christianity. It’s been going on for two thousand years. In every empire, in every spiritual force that has gone against the cross, has been crushed by the weakness of God; that is stronger than man’s greatest power (1 Cor 1:25).